In my subscriber chat recently, I asked what people struggle with most at this time of year. Overwhelmingly, the responses centred around rain. This is a newsletter I originally sent out around this time last year, updated with a couple of new outfits and new recommendations that come tried and tested.
I’m from the northwest of England. It’s wet. Especially at this time of year, when at least a constant drizzle accompanies most days. It makes getting dressed… annoying. Give me the cold any day but rain? Suddenly my go-to trainers become obsolete. The very non-waterproof coats and jackets I always wear have to stay hung up on the peg. And I have to leave my heavier wool trousers alone — as soon as they start to get a bit soggy, it’s game over.
So the question is: how do you get dressed — and still feel good — when it’s raining? How do you bring in elements of your style so that when you arrive somewhere, dump your umbrella in the stand at the front door and hang up your wet coat, you still feel good underneath?
Well, here’s my ‘formula’. Below is a pretty standard look for me when it rains: a waterproof trench, light layers such as a T-shirt, long-sleeved top or lightweight knitwear depending on the time of year, ankle-length or cropped trousers, and chunky ankle boots.
Look 1: Smart(ish)

Look 2: Casual

The waterproof coat
It starts with the coat. Until a few years ago, I didn’t have a ‘proper’ waterproof coat. I spent a lot of my childhood weekends in North Wales, stuffed into a (too big) hand-me-down Sprayway anorak so I think as I got older I wanted to move away from that aesthetic as much as possible. Inevitably I’d get wet and cold on those really rainy days as I tried to make my usual coats work (they didn’t). A few years ago I gave in and bought myself a waterproof trench coat from Uniqlo U. Admittedly, I doubt it would last for hours in the rain but it does the job when I’m out and about.
Besides its waterproof fabric, the best things about it are its length — it sits midway on my calves — and its hood, so I can have extra protection even when I do have an umbrella. I also love the style of it, so much so, that I often wear it on non-rainy days too. It has that classic beige trench coat design with Uniqlo U’s signature oversized fit — and it definitely doesn’t look like an anorak.
More raincoats




The rest of this post is for paid subscribers. Behind the paywall, you’ll find my thoughts on both pairs of boots I’m wearing above and more rain-friendly shoe options. The best trousers that won’t drag up water on rainy days. And a range of long-sleeved tops to wear under your raincoat, that won’t make you overheat.